Cannabis Has Became An Alternative To Addictive Opioids, New Study Says

There’s no denying it. We are in dire need for safe and effective treatments that could replace addictive opioids. As a result, researchers continue to examine how cannabis legalization impacts opioid consumption in the U.S.

Can Cannabis Replace Addictive Opioids?

In a new study, researchers out of the University of California San Diego examined whether statewide medical cannabis legalization affected the reduction in opioids received by Medicaid enrollees. The study analyzed state‐level opioid prescription records from 1993‐2014 Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data.

For Schedule III opioid prescriptions, medical cannabis legalization was associated with a 29.6% reduction in number of prescriptions, 29.9% reduction in dosage, and 28.8% reduction in related Medicaid spending.

In addition, the study estimated that medical cannabis legalization resulted in $7.46 million in annual federal Medicaid spending. This is the cost of opioids pain drugs that patients would have purchased if they did not use cannabis to manage their pain.

When the trend from existing states where cannabis is legal is applied to all of the U.S., the potential Medicaid savings each year on opioid prescriptions would total $17.8 million!

The study showed that a clear correlation exists between cannabis use and reduction in prescriptions for Schedule III opioids, such as Codeine. Furthermore, the researchers wrote:

Although there is emerging evidence suggesting that cannabis is effective in treating severe pain, no studies compared the analgesic efficacy of the cannabinoids with Schedule II opioids. Due to the concern of cannabis’ lack of efficacy on severe pain symptoms, patients prescribed Schedule II opioids might be less likely to switch to medical cannabis and physicians might be less likely to recommend medical cannabis to these patients.”

The Spiraling Opioid Problem

Opioid pain medications form an $11 billion-dollar industry. Many believe that the addictive nature of these drugs is partially why opioids are such a massive money-maker for Big Pharma. The CDC claims: With 10-day’s worth [of opioids], the odds of still being on opioids a year later hits roughly 20 percent.

In addition to their addictive nature, opioids are extremely dangerous. Time magazine reports:

In 2016, one in 65 deaths in the United States involved opioids — and among younger adults, that number skyrocketed to one in five, according to a new study.

Cannabis may be one potential alternative to change this disturbing statistic.

Additional research has shown that CBD, a substance in the cannabis plant, may also have beneficial effects on addiction, mental health and stress. Click here to learn more. If you have any first-hand experience in treating any of these afflictions with CBDs, please share your experiences in the comments section.

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But there is a lot of confusion as to where bread fits into a healthy diet.

The Bible practically commands followers to eat it: “Give us this day our daily bread…” The government put it at the base of the food pyramid. And for centuries, it has been called “the staff of life.”

The average American consumes 55 pounds of wheat flour every year, making refined flour the #1 source of calories in the American Diet – a situation that nutrition expert Chris Kresser describes as, “a public health catastrophe.”

Do You Know Your Body’s Most Important Weight Loss Secret?

Recently, Doctor of Naturopathy, weight-loss expert and best-selling Amazon author Liz Swann Miller, creator of the Red Smoothie Detox Factor, revealed 2 of the secrets to easy, steady weight loss. Secrets the big food corporations do their best to hide from us.

Secret #1: Enjoy real food. Don’t fall for the lie that you have to deprive yourself to lose weight.

Secret #2: stop eating out. You will automatically eat less without even noticing.

Then start detoxing your body with tasty, nourishing smoothies that are just as easy on your wallet as they are easy to make.

Because a single day of enjoying Liz’ smoothies demonstrated the radical power of her superfood-packed red smoothies to make me feel incredibly good.

Now prepare yourself for one of the biggest weight loss secrets there is. A secret that, when you use it properly, can transform your body and your health.

You probably know most of us eat too much processed food. What you may not know is that it’s full of toxic chemicals and substandard, dirt-cheap ingredients designed to make you eat more…and force you to gain weight.

Here’s how it works.

“That stuff is just a lot of calories your body can’t use,” Liz told me, “Some are poison. And all these foods are stripped of the anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories that help your body detox. The result? Your body expends huge amounts of calories to eliminatesome toxins—the rest, it stores in your fat to protect you. This is why most people are hungry all the time. They’re not getting energy they need.”

“So… what’s going on with me? Why am I losing weight but not going hungry?”

Liz paused, then dropped the bombshell.

Your body is designed to burn fat. You just have to let it.

“What? I thought we were designed to store fat?!?” We were Skyping and I was practically shouting. Then I heard Liz say…

What good is a fat reserve if you can’t burn it?

Mind blown.

Liz continued: “You’re drinking smoothies packed with phytonutrients, anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories that pull toxins out of you like a tractor beam. Allowing your body to burn those toxin-filled fat stores… and releasing tremendous amounts of stored energy.”

So that’s why I’m losing weight without going hungry.

Watch Liz’ free presentation. It’s packed with revolutionary weight loss information—information that works. Because it’s based on how nature.

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Because Liz offers a ridiculously good guarantee. You have 60 days to decide you love the Red Smoothie Detox Factor. If you don’t love it—for any reason, or even no reason at all —Liz will refund your money. 100%. No questions asked.

2)Forget what you've read about 10-day lemonade cleanses, 7-day detoxes with green juices and Gwyneth's gruel. All you need to do, and this is perfect for Saturday or or anytime really, is a simple 1-day cleanse.

WakingTimes.com is an independent news blog for people interested in natural health, living with awareness and elevating their consciousness. We author and aggregate mind-opening articles, editorials and videos that inspire our readers and liberate them from the status quo.